Denver Broncos news, rumors and injuries

Denver Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas has the non-exclusive franchise tag, which means Thomas can have talks with other teams but those teams must supply two draft picks to the Broncos if Thomas signs with another club.

Fantasy Tip: Thomas is still worth every penny of the $12.823 million salary he would get in 2015 and is a solid WR1 option.

Fantasy Tip: Thomas will be in contention for the No. 1 fantasy wide receiver spot again in 2015. Over three seasons with QB Peyton Manning, Thomas has averaged 99 catches, 1,494.3 yards and 11.6 touchdowns.

The Denver Broncos are expected to use the franchise tag on WR Demaryius Thomas Monday, March 2, all but ensuring the team keeps the wideout for the 2015 season. They are expected to use the "nonexclusive" tag, which makes it possible for other teams to negotiate with Thomas. However, the team has the right to match any offer, and if he is signed away the team is compensated by the signing team with two first-round draft picks.

Fantasy Tip: Thomas appears headed back for Denver for at least one more season and that's great news for his fantasy prospects. Look for what happened to Eric Decker when he left Peyton Manning and the team for Geno Smith and the New York Jets.

The Denver Broncos and representatives for QB Peyton Manning are working on revising the veteran's contract, according to multiple league sources. He is scheduled to draw a $19 million salary in 2015 and 2016. Manning has informed the team he intends to keep playing, and the Broncos did not formally interview any quarterbacks at the NFL Combine last week.

Fantasy Tip: Manning started out like a ball of fire last season, but he struggled down the stretch a bit. Still, he should be considered a Top 10 fantasy option at his position heading into 2015. If he his skills have diminished somewhat, he is still better than a third of the other starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

Denver Broncos impending free-agent TE Julius Thomas could very well be on his way out of Denver this offseason, which would leave a big void for Denver, especially in the red zone. Before Thomas was injured last season, he led the NFL in red zone touchdowns with nine. He was second in the league with a 77 percent touchdown rate in the red zone. Following the injury, the Broncos ended the regular season with a 62 percent touchdown frequency in the red zone.

Fantasy Tip: Thomas will certainly be missed if he does leave Denver, which seems likely. He'll be a big red zone threat no matter who he plays for in 2015 and should retain TE1 status barring any health setbacks this offseason.

Denver Broncos impending free-agent DT Terrance Knighton is unlikely to be back with the team in 2015, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Klis believes the only chance Denver has of re-signing Knighton is if the market for his services is unexpectedly weak.

Denver Broncos impending free-agent TE Julius Thomas is unlikely to be re-signed by the team, as his market value will likely exceed what the Broncos are willing to pay. The Broncos tried to sign Thomas to a five-year, $40 million extension last summer, but he wasn't comfortable with the guaranteed money and structuring.

Fantasy Tip: It'll be interesting to see where Thomas lands if he bolts Denver. Not having Peyton Manning throwing to him could negatively affect his value, which is heavily dependent on touchdowns. Be careful not to overvalue Thomas in this year's drafts if he leaves. If Thomas does leave Denver, Virgil Green will be more heavily involved, as would Jacob Tamme, if they both re-sign. Green is more important to the running game, though. Tamme could be worth a flier as a backup tight end if Manning returns.